Computer "Botnets" Wreak Havoc On Internet

Millions Of Personal Computers Can Be Unknowing Accomplices In Major Cyber Crimes

(CBS)  Serry Winkler was startled by a knock on her Denver apartment door last year. Three uniformed police officers with a warrant - for her computer.

Unbeknownst to Winkler, she had become both an unwitting accomplice and a victim to a crime, CBS News science and technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg reports.

“Your house has been broken into and you didn't even know it,” Winkler said.

A hacker, based in Russia, used the Internet to infiltrate Winkler’s computer and steal a credit card to make fraudulent purchases in her name.

“You're going on with your day, and you're just simply doing what you normally do, and then all of a sudden you find out somebody has committed a crime in your name,” she said.

Winkler was part of a scam called a robot network, or “botnet.” Here’s how it works: a criminal finds your computer and plants a program that gives them total control. The criminal then uses your machine to find another one and so on … up to hundreds of thousands. It eventually forms a super-computer army.

“As commerce moves to the Internet, the thieves move to the Internet,” said Shawn Henry, the deputy director of the FBI’s cyber division.

Henry says these botnets can wreak havoc on the Internet, overwhelming commercial Web sites and sending most of the world’s spam e-mail. That’s all while quietly infiltrating millions of home computers.

“You might not see anything, but typically you'll see your computer acting a little slowly or unusually, because the bot - your computer as a robot - the resources of that computer, are actually being used by somebody else,” he explained.

Once they control your computer, it’s like they can see your desktop. An attacker can watch you log on to your banking or credit card site, read your password and then drain your accounts - all without you ever knowing.

By the time you realize your money is missing, it’s too late. You’re already a victim.

---

Tech Talk: Zombie Computer Armies

---

The FBI has more than 100 active investigations into criminal botnets around the world, but here’s how to protect yourself at home.

“Only by ensuring that you've got an active firewall in place, your anti-virus is up to date and you are familiar with what's occurring on the computer, only by taking those types of securing measures are you best able to protect yourself,” Henry said.

Taking these precautions, and even just turning your computer off at night, are the best defense against having a low life turn your computer into an accomplice in a high-tech crime.

“Nobody gives any thought to it, and I didn't - until it happened to me,” Winkler said.

[toolmangler-2009]

Simpy stay away from MS Windows. Save yourself the aggravations inherent to a flaky OS by switching to Linux, Unix or Mac.But then again, this might jeopardize the high salaried so called "security experts."
Posted by sanchevic at 10:30 AM : Nov 30, 2007


I am using XP Pro on all my systems (6) I have absolutely no trouble with them, or Virus/bot attacks. I run a well setup firewall and antivirus and scan weekly with three other spyware programs. My 6 systems cost me the same as 1 top grade Mac. why should I change? no! if infected I merely reformat and reset the system. No big deal at pennys on the dollar for a Mac.

[the_quietman]

Use a spyware killer such as "Spybot Search & Destroy" or other such freeware/donationware and a good antivirus program to dtop botnets.

[sanchevic]

Simpy stay away from MS Windows. Save yourself the aggravations inherent to a flaky OS by switching to Linux, Unix or Mac.But then again, this might jeopardize the high salaried so called "security experts."

[rnekich]

People who own Windows based systems just have to be smart enough to buy the protective software such as Firewalls and Spyware Programs to protect them. Windows based systems are far much better than Mac systems or Linux and Unix. Uneducated people buy these systems because they have no maintanance, but if they keep up with PC Magazine they will soon find out that all of there precious little Mac systems are in for a big OP overhaul and security updates.

[rnekich]

Are there that many people out there stupid enough to have computers without having the software to protect themselves from botnets,viruses and other malware and spyware? If there are they should not own computers, just like they should not be having unprotected *** either.

[funkotronic]

Jeez, here we go again. Zillions of computers, all being taken over, all because the fragile, insecure operating system allows this sort of thing. And of course, the news story fails to mention that it''s only Windows-based systems that fall prey to this. Unix, Linux and even us snotty Mac users simply don''t have to worry about this type of system hijacking because malware generally CANNOT BE INSTALLED without the user''s permission. Yes, I have an axe to grind: Microsoft operating systems are porous, insecure and too vulnerable to outside assault, costing the public millions in anti-whatever software (that they shouldn''t have to ADD to the computer just to keep it running!), and the failings of Win/Vista annually cost the business world to the tune of TRILLIONS in lost productivity and maintenance costs. Don''t like my opinion? Too bad. Let the flames begin!

[funkotronic]

Jeez, here we go again. Zillions of computers, all being taken over, all because the fragile, insecure operating system allows this sort of thing. And of course, the news story fails to mention that it''s only Windows-based systems that fall prey to this. Unix, Linux and even us snotty Mac users simply don''t have to worry about this type of system hijacking because malware generally CANNOT BE INSTALLED without the user''s permission. Yes, I have an axe to grind: Microsoft operating systems are porous, insecure and too vulnerable to outside assault, costing the public millions in anti-whatever software (that they shouldn''t have to ADD to the computer just to keep it running!), and the failings of Win/Vista annually cost the business world to the tune of TRILLIONS in lost productivity and maintenance costs. Don''t like my opinion? Too bad. Let the flames begin!